Water shield for the ears



April 3, 1934. l. A. swAN WATER SHIELD FOR THE EARS Filed Nov. 8, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Swan V7 TTORNEY Patented Apr. 3, 1934 UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

My present invention, while useful in a. number of ways, is more particularly designed as an aid in hairdressing and may be specica'lly defined as a water shield for the ears.

5 In the operation of beauty salons considerable difiiculty is experienced with certain customers because of water getting into their ears while the hair is being shampooed. In order to avoid this, a great deal of time is often wasted While giving a shampoo which, were my device used, could be given so much quicker; a saving in time both to the customer and to the operator.

There are many people who Would otherwise enjoy shower baths, who do not take them because of the great inconvenience which a little water defiected into the ears causes them. My device, While serving to prevent any water from entering the ear, does not interfere at all With the normal hearing, as nothing but a thin sheet of rubber, which is easily displaced by the soundwaves, is between the speaker and the wearer's ear drums. Therefore:

The principal object of my invention is to provide means which may be easily attached and which will prevent the entrance of water into the ears during such operations as shampooing the hair, taking shower baths or the like.

A further object is to provide means of the character described, Which in no way interferes with the wearer's hearing during the period they are wearing the device.

A further object is to provide means of the character described which effectively prevents water entering the ear, yet does not make intimate contact with the customer's ear as to do the ordinary stoppers and thus can be used by beauty salons on a large number of customers without the necessity of complete sterilzation each time.

Other and more specific objects will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is an elevation showing one of my devices as it is worn.

Figure 2 is a sectional view along the line 2-2 of Figure i.

Figure 3 is an elevation showing one of my devices such as would be used on the right ear of a customer.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

'Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 5-5, of Figure 3.

Figure 6 shows an alternate construction which,

being symmetrical and reversible, might be worn with equal ease on either ear.

Referring to the drawings throughout which like reference characters indicate like parts, numeral 8 designat/es my ear protector Which I nor- 30 mally prefer to form from thin sheet rubber of the fiexible type. In fact, the very thin, almost paper-like rubber, is the most des'rable, as its extreme flexibility permits it to cling tightly to the ear.

I have found it most convenient to form my device from three separate pieces of sheet rubber as described. I provide first the cover sheet 10 which is the full size of the ear protector and actually covers the ear. Disposed inwardly from sheet 10 is a second sheet 12. This member Ti prefer to slot as at 14, so that the ear may be passed through this opening. Disposed between sheets 10 and 12, at one side only of the protector, is a third sheet 10. This is provided to form a F15 very flexible membrane which Will conform to the margins of the auditory canal 'and thus prevent any water entering at this point. It has been found that this cavity varies so greatly with different customers that special attention must be paid to this member 10 to see that it is made to conform to the irregularities off-the customer-'s ear.

I 'have found that the form shown in Figures Il,

3, and 4. employs the minimum amount of rubber S5 and will t most snugly to the average ear. W hen using this form however, it is necessary to make them for the right and left ears.

This construction is quite satisfactory 'When skilled operators are going to use the same; however, for use in the home I often find it desirable to supply the form shown in Figure 6, in Which the form is symmetrical along both its major and minor axes and of course when so made, the device may be worn on either ear by merely in- 05 verting the same.

The construction of the form shown in Figure 6, except for the proportions, is identical with the form now most preferred by me, the difference merely being that the flap sheet 16 protrudes from a slot 14.. at the center of the protector instead of at one edge as shown in the other forms. In this form of course there is considerable space unused Which, while not presenting the neat appearance of the other form, does not in any construction and one which has found great favor with beauty salons catering to the general public.

I have referred to my construction as being formed of separate sheets Joined together, I believe it will be understood that the same might be formed, by suitable means, as one unit, however.

Method of use In using my device it is merely necessary to grasp the device with the foreflnger of one hand inside the flap member 16 and the thumb outside; the thumb and forefinger of the other hand, possibly assisted by the index finger, should grasp the outer margin as 26. It is then possible to slightly stretch the rubber, slipping it over the helix or upper part of the ear and then with the index finger securing it over the cochlea or ear lobe. The closing flap 16 should then be arranged so that it is slightly folded within the device much as is indicated in Figure 2 at 28. This will provide, particularly when the skin becomes moistened, a very secure closure for the concha or outer portion of the auditory canal.

As best shown in Figure 2, the forwardly folded portion of the exterior flap 16 is pulled forward between the front wall of the slot 14 and the cheek, and this portion of the flap lies snugly against the cheek. The forward pull on the flap,

mean? while the letter is in frictional engagement with the edge of the slot, bends the portion 12 and causes a wedging action of the free edge of the front wall of the slot against the flap. This wedging action holds the flap in close contact with the cheek, thereby preventing water from entering between the flap and the cheek to the ear.

The foregoing description and the accompanying drawings are believed to clearly disclose a preferred embodiment of my invention but it will be understood that this disclosure is merely illustrative and that such changes in the invention may be made as are fairly within the scope and spirit of the following claim:

What I claim is:

An envelope of elastic Waterproof material adapted to enclose an ear and comprising an outer wall, an inner wall having an opening to slip over the ear, an intermediate sheet anchored at one edge within the envelope, and an exterior flap on said intermediate sheet protruding rearwardly through said opening and adapted to fold forward and lie against the cheek in front of the ear, and the free edge of the front wall of said opening adapted to frictionally engage the flap with a wedging action to hold the flap against the cheek.

IDA A. SWAN. 

